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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

• About the 419 (Advance Fee) scam
• "Is that email a scam?" - Check it online here!
  
• Frequently asked Questions (419 FAQ)
• Phone numbers used by 419 scammers
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• Company names mentioned in 419 spam:
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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "dear friend" (a common phrase found in 419 scams)
  • "million british pounds" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.

Fraud email example:

From: John Moore <jm_jjm31@msn.com>
Reply-To: <jm_0_jm@o2.pl>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 23:48:05 +0000
Subject: With kind regards



Dear Friend, I am the attorney and trustee to the Will of my late client Thomas Stone.Until his death My client deposited the sum of Seventeen Million British Pounds in a Bank here in London, with the hope of transferring it to his country as soon as he is on leave. I have made several attempts to locate any of my clients extended relatives, but this attempt so far has beenunsuccessful. I am contacting you to assist in claiming the money left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where the deposit was made. All legal documents to aid your claim for this fund and to prove your relationship with the deceased will be arranged for. Your help will be appreciated with 30% of the total sum.All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law. Please accept my apologies, keep my confidence and disregard this letter if you do not appreciate this proposition I have offered you. However,if you do please back to me immediately. John Moore.

Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam